Hinge assembly for straps

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a hinge assemblage for handle straps of handbags, luggage, attache cases and similar items. The hinge assembly is formed by a pair of rigid members each of which mounts two locking pins. These locking pins have an outer surface which is partly circularly curved and partly flat. Each flat surface has thereon a row of saw teeth. Placement of the locking pins in superimposition causes the saw teeth on the locking pins to engage each other thereby positively preventing relative sliding of the locking pins. The superimposed locking pins are held in position by sleeves fitted upon the toothed portions of the locking pins. The curved and the flat pin portions are so correlated that each two pins define a cylindrical configuration when placed in superimposition. The result of locking the pins and thus the hinge members together is a hinge.

United States Patent [191 Steinberg Oct. 28, 1975 HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR STRAPS [75] Inventor: Adalberto Steinberg, Milan, Italy [73] Assignees: Accessori Calzature Fibbie Afffini Di 'Adalberto Sussman Steinberg & C0. S.r.L., Milan, Italy; Randolph-Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 532,918

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [58] Field of Search 24/265 AL, 265 R, 201 L, 24/201 LP, 33 R, 33 A, 31 R, 230 NP; 59/84,

87; 403/341, 340, 339; l6/DIG. 24, 125

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilson 24/265 AL 3,184,101 5/1965 Pentesco 16/125 Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hane, Baxley & Spiecens [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a hinge assemblage for handle straps of handbags, luggage, attache cases and similar items. The hinge assembly is formed by a pair of rigid members each of which mounts two locking pins. These locking pins have an outer surface which is partly circularly curved and partly flat. Each flat surface has thereon a row of saw teeth. Placement of the locking pins in superimposition causes the saw teeth on the locking pins to engage each other thereby positively preventing relative sliding of the locking pins. The superimposed locking pins are held in position by sleeves fitted upon the toothed portions of the locking pins. The curved and the flat pin portions are so correlated that each two pins define a cylindrical configuration when placed in superimposition. The result of locking the pins and thus the hinge members together is a hinge.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 I 3,914,831

HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR STRAPS The present invention relates to ring-type hinges which can be combined and inserted to attach handles to the corresponding bags, suitcases, and similar objects adapted to be carried by hand.

BACKGROUND In the hinges known in this field of application, the handle is constructed by including the two hinges in it, the handle surrounding one pin of the ring or frame of the hinge, the other pin of each hinge being inserted to close the ring, securing it to the object associated with the handle, into which object the said second pin is inserted through a suitable recess. But this manner of procedure limits the degree of freedom and delays the manufacture of the handle;

There are also known hinge assemblies which can be inserted in order to connect a handle and a bag or the like, they being already finished. Such hinge types solve the problem of the independent formation of the handle, of the corresponding object and of the hinge. Nevertheless, it has a number of articulations and movable parts which, while on the one hand advantageously permit easy assembly, on the other hand, however, increase the cost of manufacture thereof and make it less n'gid.

THE INVENTION The main object therefore of the present invention is to provide an improvement of the general type hereinbefore referred to by eliminating the abovementioned limitations. One particular object of the invention is the provision of hinges which can be inserted in order to connect the handles and corresponding objects which are already finished, which may as desired be locked in non-removable or disconnectable manner.

Another particular object of the invention is to obtain a hinge which is particularly strong, rigid in shape, and of simple construction.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a hinge which can be rapidly and easily inserted and in which the locking is possibly of the detent type.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a hinge in which there is avoided any danger of accidental opening even as a result of wear, impact or other form of stress.

These objects and others which will become evident below have been achieved by a combinable ring type hinge built for handles of bags, suitcases and similar objects of the type in which the ring is formed of a front pin section, a back pin section and two respective side elements, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one group formed of one of said pin sections which is not curved in lengthwise direction and at least one correlative side element integral with each other; a second pin section not curved in longitudinal direction, a second separate side element, and means for producing a male and female mating attachment,

ment detent or the like without requiring any operations either on the suitcase or on the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be clearer from a description of a specific embodiment thereof indicated by way of preference but not of limitation, which will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a double-pin element composing a hinge in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view along the line of IIlI of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 gives longitudinal and transverse views of a bushing forming part of a hinge in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view, with portions in section, of a hinge in accordance with the invention in closed position, in which the component of FIG. 1 is seen along the line IV-IV; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the attachment of a hinge assembly to handle straps.

A hinge in accordance with the preferred embodiment consists of two identical double-pin elements, such as the ones shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and of two bushings such as the one shown in FIG. 3. A double-pin element is indicated in the drawing by the reference number 1 and is formed essentially of a base part or bridge 2 from which there extend two locking pins 3 like those of an electric plug. The bridge 2 has a longitudinal profile which approaches the shape of half an ellipse which is arranged on a flat base 2a while in cross section it has a substantially semi-circular profile, as can be better seen in FIG. 4. The two pins 3 extend from the flat base of the bridge through a cylindrical connection 4, one at each end.

These pins 3 also have a cross section of semicircular shape but in their longitudinal direction they have a sawtooth course on the side of the flat base of the semi-circular section. The sawteeth 5 have the short side 5a of the teeth facing towards the base of the pin and the long side 5b facing towards the tip of the pin. The cylindrical connection 4 connects the sawtooth pin proper with the flat base 2a of the bridge.

If two double-pin hinge elements 1 are taken and placed opposite each other with their pins facing each other as a mirror image and if one of the two facing elements is then rotated around the axis A-A and thesawteeth which face each other are engaged with each other, the reciprocal position of the two elements as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. In order to guide and lock the two elements in the mutual position shown, forming a ring type hinge or frame, there are provided two bushings or sleeves 6, one on each pair of intermeshed pins as indicated in FIG. 4. In the embodiment shown, the bushing sleeve 6 has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the cylindrical connecting sections 4 and has a length less than the distance be tween the two base places 2a of the two facing bridges, striking against the two projections 7 in which the two cylindrical connections 4 of the part facing the sawtooth section of the pin terminate, exerting an elastic pressure against the two rabbets 7 resting against it. The inner diameter of the bushing is such as to produce a centripedal radial elastic pressure on the two pin shanks 3 which are interengaged and inserted together, facing each other, in the said bushing 6.

The two bushings 6 therefore together form the locking member for the ring of the hinge. With the elastic pressure which it exercises on the two projections 7 the bushing eliminates longitudinal play between the engaged teeth of the pins and with the radial pressure it eliminates possible transverse play between the said teeth. The bushing must therefore be made of a resilient material which by its circumferential elastic deformation permits the introduction and interengagement of the two pins and which keeps them connected and prevents their accidental disconnection. By selecting a material of the bushing 6 such that it has different resilient characteristics it is possible to obtain a locking of the coupling of the pins which is practically impossible to disconnect or difficult to disconnect or else easy to disconnet, it being disconnectable of course only upon deliberate manual action and not accidentally.

The same results can of course also be obtained with a bushing which strikes against the two planes 2a instead of against the projections 2a; in such case the two connections 4 on the two pins must be modified or eliminated. It is therefore clear that these nonessential structural details are not to be understood in such a way as to limit the embodiment of the concept of attachment which is obtained with such details.

Thus also when it is desired to provide the possibility of disconnecting the connection, the short teeth a of the sawteeth 5 may be made, rather than with vertical front as in FIG. 4, with a slight inclination opposite the inclination of the long side 5b of the same tooth. With a suitably selected combination of the inclination indicated and of the resilience of the bushing, it is also at all times possible to assure locking against the possibility of accidental disconnection. On the other hand, when it is desired to increase the inseparability of the locking, the short sides may be slightly undercut, namely at an acute angle to the axis of the pin.

It is believed that FIG. 5 is self-explanatory on the basis of the preceding description.

It is therefore seen that with small changes or adaptations in construction, or with a suitable selection of a bushing of greater or lesser resilience it is possible, with a hinge of a single type, designed in accordance with the invention, to obtain a locking of the ring of said hinge on a handle and an object associated with it, which are ready and finished, which is as desired either unconnectable or connectable with a desired difficulty in manual disconnection, the possibility of accidental disconnection being in all cases avoided. This particular object has been achieved with a hinge of very simple design and mounting which at the same time is very strong, as was the purpose of the invention. Furthermore, it is adapted to a large number of different uses, namely from small purses, in view of its very compact shape, to suitcases and in general very heavy objects, in view of its strength.

In addition to the variations mentioned of special technical purposes, numerous others can be found which achieve the same purpose and which therefore fall within the scope of the present invention.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain new preferred example and embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hinge device for handle straps of handbags, luggage, attache cases and similar items using handle straps, said device comprising in combination:

a pair of rigid hinge members, each of said hinge members including a base part and two locking pins extending from the base part normal thereto and in mutually parallel spaced apart relationship, each of said locking pins having a circularly curved surface portion and a flat surface portion, each of said flat surface portions including protrusions and recesses, the protrusions and recesses on each locking pin on one of the hinge members being engageable with the protrusions and recesses on one of the locking pins on the other hinge member, placement of the respective locking pin on the two hinge members in superimposition complementing the pins to define a cylindrical configuration and preventing lengthwise displacement of the respec tive pins relative to each other; and

a pair of locking sleeves, each of said sleeves being fittable upon two superimposed locking pins for locking said pins in the superimposed position, thereby defining a hinge device of closed peripheral outline.

2. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein each of the sleeves is lengthwise slotted and made of elastic material, said sleeves engaging the respective superimposed locking pins with a pressure fit thereby biasing said protrusions and recesses toward each other but yielding to a pull on the pins in opposite direction.

3. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein each of said locking pins has at its end adjacent to the respective hinge member a cylindrical portion, the length of said portions, the length of the sleeves and the outer diameters thereof being so correlated that upon fitting sleeves upon superimposed flat pin portions the respective two cylindrical portions and the respective sleeve define a continuous cylindrical surface of substantially uniform diameter.

4. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein each of said hinge members is an elongate bar of substantially oval outline in its lengthwise direction and having a substantially semi-circular cross-section, the side of bars mounting said pins being flat and the opposite side being gradually reduced in thickness toward the lengthwise ends of the bars.

5. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein said hinge members and said locking pins define a continuous substantially rectangular outline.

6. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein said protrusion and recesses on the flat surfaces portions of the locking pins are in the form of transversely disposed saw teeth.

7. The hinge device according to claim 6 wherein the saw teeth on each locking pin are disposed in a lengthwise row.

8. The hinge device according to claim 7 wherein the steep flanges of the saw teeth face the end of the locking pins. 

1. A hinge device for handle straps of handbags, luggage, attache cases and similar items using handle straps, said device comprising in combination: a pair of rigid hinge members, each of said hinge members including A base part and two locking pins extending from the base part normal thereto and in mutually parallel spaced apart relationship, each of said locking pins having a circularly curved surface portion and a flat surface portion, each of said flat surface portions including protrusions and recesses, the protrusions and recesses on each locking pin on one of the hinge members being engageable with the protrusions and recesses on one of the locking pins on the other hinge member, placement of the respective locking pin on the two hinge members in superimposition complementing the pins to define a cylindrical configuration and preventing lengthwise displacement of the respective pins relative to each other; and a pair of locking sleeves, each of said sleeves being fittable upon two superimposed locking pins for locking said pins in the superimposed position, thereby defining a hinge device of closed peripheral outline.
 2. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein each of the sleeves is lengthwise slotted and made of elastic material, said sleeves engaging the respective superimposed locking pins with a pressure fit thereby biasing said protrusions and recesses toward each other but yielding to a pull on the pins in opposite direction.
 3. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein each of said locking pins has at its end adjacent to the respective hinge member a cylindrical portion, the length of said portions, the length of the sleeves and the outer diameters thereof being so correlated that upon fitting sleeves upon superimposed flat pin portions the respective two cylindrical portions and the respective sleeve define a continuous cylindrical surface of substantially uniform diameter.
 4. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein each of said hinge members is an elongate bar of substantially oval outline in its lengthwise direction and having a substantially semi-circular cross-section, the side of bars mounting said pins being flat and the opposite side being gradually reduced in thickness toward the lengthwise ends of the bars.
 5. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein said hinge members and said locking pins define a continuous substantially rectangular outline.
 6. The hinge device according to claim 1 wherein said protrusion and recesses on the flat surfaces portions of the locking pins are in the form of transversely disposed saw teeth.
 7. The hinge device according to claim 6 wherein the saw teeth on each locking pin are disposed in a lengthwise row.
 8. The hinge device according to claim 7 wherein the steep flanges of the saw teeth face the end of the locking pins. 